Removed THE BLOB on Aug 8!

Probably the same as everyone else here, kids...

21 Jun 2011

2 months pre

Probably the same as everyone else here, kids stretched the belly beyond repair. 3 kids, ages 11, 9 and 18mo. I had pre-eclampsia with all 3 which cause SIGNIFICANT weight gain mainly due to the excess fluids. I dropped a lot of it after pregnancies but this last post-baby fat has been much more difficult and stubborn than the other two. (I was 18/20 yrs old with the others and 28 with the new one) I'm only 5'3 and I weigh 175. Most of the weight is a huge spare tire around my abdomen.

I don't hate the rest of my body, other than a few more lbs here and there, I really don't mind being a bit over the "norm". I've never been very concerned with perfection, I'm not worried about getting into a bikini, I'm just so stinkin tired of wearing jeans that fit in the waist but sag on the butt or fit my butt but give me a huge muffin top. I just want to feel good in regular clothes again! I also cannot WAIT to go shopping for my Marine Corps Ball gown and not have to wear 3 pairs of spanx and still look prego!

A friend had her tuck and smart lipo in March 2011 and highly rec the doc and the procedures so I checked into it and booked my consult right away. Had the consult a few weeks ago, he said I'm a great candidate for both the tuck and the smart lipo. I'll be getting the lipo on my flanks as well as whatever needs to be done on the belly. I'm booked for August 1!

I haven't taken any "before" pics yet but as soon as I do I'll be sure to upload them. I'm super excited to get THE BLOB off of me!

Adding some "before" pics. Still losing weight...

24 Jun 2011

2 months pre

Adding some "before" pics. Still losing weight while I'm waiting for the surgery, hoping to drop 10lbs or so before it's time. Gosh, I can't wait to see this blob gone!!! :)

&@(*%@#*^%!!!!!!! ARG!!!! I was less than a week...

29 Jul 2011

10 days pre

&@(*%@#*^%!!!!!!! ARG!!!! I was less than a week out when my PS's nurse called and said my labs came back and my Hepatitis C was positive. Ummm.... WHAT?!?!?!? Evidently it was SLLLIIIIIIGHTLY above the norm which means I either have the live virus (HIGHLY unlikely seeing as how I don't frequently hang out with dirty druggies trading needles) or I have high antibodies in my body. I know there are other ways to contract Hep C but I'm def not a candidate for any of them. Anyway because the PCR re-test takes so long to come back, they had to reschedule me! ARG!!!! My surgery WAS going to be on Monday (Aug 1) but now it's Aug 8. Husband put in his leave request again so lets hope his MSgt. approves it other wise I wont get much help from him. This is so so so annoying but I know it has to be done. Obviously my main priority is making sure I'm healthy but it's such a let down/bummer to push it out another week while I wait for this stinkin test. Anyway, Aug 8 it is, I guess!

Tummy tuck complete! The BLOB is gone!!! I did...

8 Aug 2011

Day of treatment

Tummy tuck complete! The BLOB is gone!!! I did the "awake, tumescent" tummy tuck and smart lipo so my update will be different than others. I got there and they gave me the IV fluids and a foley cath, I took my Valium, Vicodin and Zofran, went in the OR room where the doc drew on my belly, I laid down, they put up the c-section drape, gave me some Demerol then the doc numbed my entire abdominal area then started the smart lipo on my entire abdomen and flanks. Not gonna lie, there was some burning pain involved with that. It felt like a horrible sunburn inside. I didn't feel any of the incision when he did the skin removal. It was strange when he pulled the skin together and clamped it to sew it up. I could feel the skin being stretched, it didn't hurt, just felt the tugging. It took about 30 min to sew me up then about 30 min to get me all squared away, bandaged and cleaned up before heading to the recovery room. I did get light headed a few times while the nurses were cleaning me and dressing me, had to lay down twice to keep from passing out. I was laying flat on my back for 2-3 hours so standing up wasn't agreeing with me. I didn't get to see my belly because it was bandaged up before they took the drape down but when I sat up I could tell my tummy was much more flat and the BLOB didn't rest on my thighs while I was sitting! YAY!!! They put the binder on my and a bunch of bandages in the lipo incision points are, by the time I got home they were soaked through with fluids (no fluid drains) so I've been changing them out with maxi pads every few hours which is working out fine. I'm trying to stay on top of the pain, took a few Vicodins today but I'm still getting random pains here and there. I took Motrin and it seems to be working as good as Vicodin so I think I may stick with that. I go back Wednesday for my post-op check and to take the bandages off, I can not waaaaait to see my new belly!!! Posting 2 pics of a before and an after!

3 dpo and I'm feeling great!!!! Made pancakes for...

11 Aug 2011

3 days post

3 dpo and I'm feeling great!!!! Made pancakes for the kids yesterday morning, only took Vicodin for 1 day and I'm only taking Motrin now. I actually don't even feel like I NEED that, but I take it for the swelling too. Sleeping pretty good, changing positions is a little rough but I'm in bed and out of the recliner now (as of last night) and everything is a-ok in the pooping department! YAY!!!! That was one of my biggest fears! My scar is a little jaggedy and I'm not a big fan of how it looks but I'm hoping it will even out a little once the swelling goes down. ??? My belly button is already taking on a nice shape, turning in a bit already. My first post-op was yesterday and doc said I can start using Neosporin and gauze pads under my binder, everything looks great and he'll see me in a week! The bruising is extremely minimal and the swelling isn't heinous. Getting up and down is slow but as long as I have a hard surface nearby, I can use my arm strength and I can do it on my own. If I'm getting in and out of the recliner or car, hubs needs to help. Overall, this recovery process is a breeze compared to what I thought it'd be like! YAY! Adding more pics!

6 DPO, had my first outing yesterday, had some...

14 Aug 2011

6 days post

6 DPO, had my first outing yesterday, had some pretty significant swelling by the end of the night but it's looking better this morning. The bruising is gone with only traces of yellowing now. I held my baby for the first time yesterday. Husband had an emergency car repair and I had to get her out of the crib. She's only a 20lb 19mo old so she's very light and it didn't hurt but when she started moving around it hurt a bit. The 9 seconds of her being still in my arms was pretty heavenly though

4 weeks out, the main incision is fantastic, the...

6 Sep 2011

29 days post

4 weeks out, the main incision is fantastic, the belly button is still giving me trouble. It's red and rashy around the bb, the dermabond is still hangin in there, about half gone. There's a small amount of yellow-ish discharge all day. I hear it's normal but it's driving me nuts. The swelling doesn't seem to be going down much, it's getting depressing. If the swelling would hurry and go down, I'd be in less pain. The only pain I'm in is the tightness from the swelling. I'm still in the same size pants but they're not super comfortable if I'm sitting a lot so I stick with summery dresses still. Holding my 20 month old is getting easier, as long as she's being good and not kicking her legs, I can hold her for 10 min or so at a time. She sits on my lap in the recliner a lot. She's dainty and light weight so it doesn't bother me a bit. Bending down is still uncomfortable but I do it if I absolutely have to. I'll add a few new pics, taken today. One of my profile, one of my icky belly button.

Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! I went to my 6 week...

21 Sep 2011

1 month post

Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! I went to my 6 week post-op check and the doc quickly diagnosed my belly button issues, it's a stinkin YEAST INFECTION in my bb! I've had it for a good 3+ weeks and I kept getting told it's normal to feel itchy and have redness but I don't live near the doc so I never went in. I start meds tomorrow morning to clear it up. He also said that poochie swollen area of my tummy is likely due to the inflammation from the yeast infection. I'm so happy to know it's going to get cleared up and get better asap! YAY!

*8 weeks PO, not 7

4 Oct 2011

2 months post

*8 weeks PO, not 7

I've been on antibiotic and diflucan to clear up...

4 Oct 2011

2 months post

I've been on antibiotic and diflucan to clear up the yeast infection in my BB and it's DEF a lot better but I wouldn't say it's completely cleared up yet. It's sooooo disheartening watching the healing process move so slowly. I had an appointment to re-check the progress a few days ago but had to reschedule bc I'm sick but my new appt is in 2 days so he'll let me know if it's cleared up or not. The itching is 99% gone (THANK GOODNESS!!!!) The redness is about 50% gone, I finally got all of the dermabond and stitches out and it's just a little itchy from dry skin around the BB area but I *think* the YI is gone! (fingers crossed!) My other complaint is my swelling is for sure going down but I still have a huge bubble/pooch around my BB area. It's still SO tight and uncomfortable at 7 weeks PO! I'll post a pic of my BB so far and my swelling as of yesterday. And I'll check in after my next appt.